ONEIDA INDIAN NATION, (N.Y.) – (July 17, 2008) – Notah Begay III, four-time PGA TOUR winner, proudly announces a first-of-its-kind golf tournament to raise awareness and funding for the improved health and wellness of Native American youth on Indian reservations nationwide. The Notah Begay III Foundation Challenge (NB3 Challenge) was conceptualized by Notah with the goal of educating the American public on the strong need within Indian communities to help children improve their lives through sport.

The event will be made possible by two Indian nations – Oneida Indian Nation of New York and San Manuel Band of Serrano Mission Indians of California – demonstrating the collaboration of tribes in donating time and resources to this important cause. The tournament further presents an opportunity to showcase the significant strides Indian nations have made in recent years to create a more promising future for their youth and their communities as a whole.

“The Oneida people are proud to join with Notah Begay III in this exciting initiative,” said Ray Halbritter, Oneida Indian Nation Representative and CEO. “Native leaders recognize the importance of providing lasting hope and unique opportunities for the seventh generation. That is why the Oneida Nation has invested in the future by becoming a founding partner of Notah’s Foundation Challenge.”

The Notah Begay III Foundation was established in 2005 to create sustainable programs that are designed by Native Americans for Native American youth. The NB3 Challenge will serve as the Foundation’s first national event and will be held August 26, 2008, at Atunyote Golf Club at the Turning Stone Resort, an economic enterprise of the Oneida Indian Nation. World-class PGA TOUR players Stewart Cink, Vijay Singh, Mike Weir, Camilo Villegas and Notah Begay III – with more than 75 combined professional career wins between them – will play in a skins game format whereby all proceeds benefit the Foundation.

“I am humbled to have such outstanding golfers join me at the inaugural tournament, as their support to bring national attention to the issues facing Native children and to raise funds for our youth sport programs truly speaks volumes,” said Notah Begay III. “This event was made possible by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and the Oneida Indian Nation and the tribes’ willingness to work together shows how dedicated they are to improving both their own communities and Native communities all over. It’s through powerful partnerships such as these that together we can positively impact the future of our Native American youth.”

The goal of the Foundation is that the youth sport programs are sustainable and will run strong for generations to come. To date, the Foundation has partnered with the Tohajiilee High School, a Navajo Nation community, to deliver sound golf curricula to a number of children. Since its inception, the program has seen considerable improvement in both participation and performance and remains true to the game’s spirit by implementing sportsmanship, integrity and respect as its guidelines. In addition to golf, soccer programs have been a huge success, and have grown to include approximately 150 Native American youth in New Mexico alone, each of whom participate on one of 16 different teams for a 10-game season.